I've got another question. I'm seeing a lot of verses that show who gets saved was chosen before the world began (Ephesians 1:4, Revelation 17:8, Romans 9:11). Is the proper response to this fact to fear that I might be believing in vain as a non-elect? After all, many believers will be told "I never knew you" as per Matthew 21-23.
This is the idea of continuing in the faith, note v23
Colossians 1
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
2 Timothy 2:12New King James Version (NKJV)
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
Clearly those who depart the faith are unsaved antichrists, as l John 2 teaches.
Those who do not deny Christ but endure to the end, Christ says will be saved.
Matthew 24:13
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
1 John 2
18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that theAntichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; butthey went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
Endure without denying Christ. Peter did deny Christ 3 times, yet since Peter was elect, Christ told Peter HE had interceded, prayed to God for Peter and that Peter would be turned back.
God is the one who grants repentance.
Christ is the one whoever lives to make intercession for His people.
If you remain steadfast in faith, with Christ interceding for you, then in heaven is your eternal reward and that is your destiny.
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